A common question we receive about our garden is regarding the origin and builders of the retaining walls. Except for a few of the newer walls, all were constructed by me and my partner, Scott. We learned through trial and error, benefiting from our youthful energy when most were built. We skimmed the basic instructions on building a retaining wall, then adapted them to suit our needs. For instance, although walls should be set on gravel and backfilled with gravel, we opted to lay them on the native soil to avoid the hassle of purchasing and transporting gravel down the hill. We used construction rubble found while digging on the hill for drainage backfill. Surprisingly, 15 years later, none of the walls have collapsed. We gradually worked our way down the hill, building from the top and laying steps to create new levels for more walls. Although steps are typically laid from the bottom up, the steepness of the hill required us to build from the top down. Many walls needed adjustments and were either removed or re-laid until they met our expectations. Blocks were mostly carried down the hill one or two at a time. Scott attempted to slide blocks down using long boards, but occasionally, a block would fly off and tumble to the fence at the bottom. Retrieving it through the chaparral and climbing back up was as labor-intensive and time-consuming as carrying 15 blocks individually down the hill.

When we began building the walls, the only readily available retaining wall block was the polygon-shaped one with a lip for locking it to the row below. As new types of blocks emerged over the years, we started using them. There was, and still is, no block specifically designed for steps, so I have devised various methods to construct steps using different materials.

I don’t know the exact number of pallets of blocks delivered, but it’s definitely in the hundreds. The delivery truck is too long to navigate our street, so they park at the top of our street in front of the school and use a forklift to transport the blocks down the hill to the brick sidewalk in front of our house. To Scott’s dismay, he would come home from work to find that RCP had delivered yet another full truckload of blocks. The RCP driver still remembers our location after 17 years of deliveries.

The most challenging part of building a wall is setting the first course of blocks. After that, the process speeds up, with carrying blocks becoming the main task. Initially, transporting the blocks down was the hardest part. However, now that we are seven stories below street level, the most difficult part is walking back up. Since carrying blocks can make you quite warm, I often carried them down after work for an hour or so when it was cooler and darker. The ambient light from hotels on I-8 provides just enough illumination to see where to step. I’ve occasionally hired younger and supposedly stronger help to carry blocks. They always start by running up the hill after carrying a load of blocks. I’ve warned them that they’ll regret it the next day. Later, I usually find them resting halfway up the hill, catching their breath. Only a few hardy individuals have returned for a second day of work, and they proceed at a much slower pace.

In 2003, I read an article in Sunset Magazine about a new home garden in the Bay Area. It featured beautiful curved walls that appeared to be stone but were actually made from concrete blocks. At the time, we were in the midst of completing the project of filling in the swimming pool and constructing the stair tower and casita. I thought these blocks would be perfect for retaining walls in that area. I checked the resource listed at the back of the magazine and discovered it was a Keystone Block product. Knowing that RCP was the Keystone distributor for San Diego, I contacted them. It took some time to find someone who could assist me, and I learned they were just starting to produce these blocks and were hesitant to sell them until they were fully cured (a drying process to harden the concrete). Nevertheless, I persisted, and we received one of the first deliveries of Keystone Country Manor blocks. These blocks use fiberglass pins to hold them together, allowing for vertical walls. A cap is glued on top to complete the wall. They are relatively easy to use for creating curved walls, pilasters, and other shapes. I loved the look so much that nearly all the walls since then have been constructed from Country Manor blocks.

2024 Update

My newish garden assistant releveled the steps and fixed issues with sinking.  They look great. 

The plants are recovering or have been replaced since the fire department had the neighbor remove the 70 foot tall bamboo that was shading the area and also buried most of it under bamboo debris for several years killing many of the plants on the hillside.